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Related Concept Videos

Types of Toxins01:36

Types of Toxins

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Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
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Other Algae01:19

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The group Stramenopiles include some phototrophic microorganisms. Members of this group possess flagella covered in numerous short, hairlike extensions, a feature that inspired the group's name, derived from the Latin words for "straw" and "hair." Some of the main categories of Stramenopiles include diatoms, golden algae, and brown algae.Diatoms are unicellular, photosynthetic eukaryotes, with over 200 known genera. They play a key role in the planktonic communities of both marine and...
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Toxic Reactions: Overview01:26

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When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
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Red Algae01:23

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Red algae, also known as rhodophytes, are primarily found in marine environments, though some species inhabit freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. These organisms exist in both unicellular and multicellular forms, with some multicellular varieties reaching macroscopic sizes.As phototrophic organisms, red algae contain chlorophyll a; however, their chloroplasts lack chlorophyll b. Instead, they possess phycobiliproteins, which serve as major light-harvesting pigments, similar to those found in...
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Overview of Algae01:28

Overview of Algae

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The kingdom Archaeplastida encompasses red and green algae, along with land plants. Unlike other protists with chloroplasts that arose through secondary endosymbiosis, only red and green algae originated from primary endosymbiotic events. This diverse group of eukaryotic organisms contains chlorophyll and performs oxygenic photosynthesis.Algae exist in various forms, from large brown kelp in coastal waters to green scum in puddles and stains on rocks or soil. Some species are responsible for...
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Green Algae01:21

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Green algae, also referred to as chlorophytes, are different from red algae in having the chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and b, which give them their distinct green hue. However, they lack phycobiliproteins, preventing them from developing the red or blue-green pigmentation seen in red algae. In terms of photosynthetic pigment composition, green algae closely resemble plants and share a close evolutionary relationship with them. Taxonomically Green algae belong to Phylum Chlorophyta in...
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Early Detection of Cyanobacterial Blooms and Associated Cyanotoxins using Fast Detection Strategy
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Toxic or Otherwise Harmful Algae and the Built Environment.

Wolfgang Karl Hofbauer1

  • 1Umwelt, Hygiene und Sensorik, Fraunhofer-Institut für Bauphysik, 83626 Valley, Bavaria, Germany.

Toxins
|July 2, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Potentially harmful algae thrive in the built environment, posing risks like toxicity and allergies to humans. Climate change may increase these algal threats, necessitating further research.

Keywords:
Chlorophytaaerophytic algaeallergenic algaeanthropogenic structuresbuilding relevant organismschlorellosiscyanobacteriacyanotoxionsmicrobial induced corrosionphycotoxins

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Man-made structures offer diverse habitats for algae, primarily aerophytic species.
  • Harmful algae in the built environment can be toxic, allergenic, or pathogenic to humans.
  • Algae can also impact structures, causing biodeterioration or, rarely, protection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of potentially harmful algae in the built environment.
  • To identify the types of harm these algae can cause to humans and structures.
  • To highlight the potential increase in harmful algal species due to climate change.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on algae in anthropogenic environments.
  • Compilation of a list of 79 potentially harmful airborne algal taxa and their built environment counterparts.
  • Analysis of reported effects of algae on human health and materials.

Main Results:

  • Potentially harmful algae, including Cyanoprokaryota (blue-green algae) and Chlorophyta (green algae), are present in the built environment.
  • These algae exhibit toxic, allergenic, and pathogenic properties, with Prototheca genus noted for pathogenicity.
  • Algal impact on structures ranges from biodeterioration to debated protective effects.

Conclusions:

  • The built environment harbors diverse potentially harmful algae affecting human health and infrastructure.
  • Climate change is predicted to exacerbate the prevalence and impact of harmful algal species.
  • Further research into algal composition, ecophysiology, and growth in built environments is crucial.